Radiation Oncology 101 — RN and Allied Health Lecture

Jayne Camporeale, MS, RN, OCN, APRN

Assistant Professor
Adult Care Nurse Practitioner
Department of Radiation Oncology
UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center
UNC School of Medicine
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Mary Fleming Knowles, MSN, ANP-C

Adult Care Nurse Practitioner
Department of Radiation Oncology
UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center
UNC School of Medicine
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Lecture Description

Radiation therapy can be used alone or in combination with chemotherapy in cancer treatment plans. This discussion will review the different forms of radiation therapy (including Proton Therapy, etc.), how it works, and how it can be used in combination with chemotherapy. Since radiation therapy has its own set of side effects, the speaker will address the most common symptoms (such issues as appetite loss and radiation mucositis) and how to help patients deal with them.

Lecture Objectives:

• Define radiation therapy and its use in oncology care.
• Discuss the process a patient undergoes to receive Radiation Therapy.
• Identify the side effects a patient may experience while receiving Radiation Therapy.